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This giant's career was one long golden age, but the early ‘70s, from which these recordings come, is perhaps the least-noticed period of his permanent prime. What a pity. Facing the challenge of Young Turks like Bella Bella, Bakuba and the embryonic Zaiko Langa Langa, he didn't try to out-hip them, despite adopting such novelties as trap drums. Basically, as these recordings prove, he just kept right on doing his thing superbly, Young Turks or no Young Turks. ~ John Storm Roberts, Original Music, Rovi

Biografía

Nacido(a): 06 de julio de 1938 en Sona-Bata, Zaire

Género: África

Años de actividad: '50s, '60s, '80s

There's no doubt that Franco was, in every sense of the word, a big man in African music. Sometimes weighing in at 300 pounds, he also earned his nickname as "The Sorcerer of the Guitar," making it sing like no one before, with effortless, fluid lines. Also an accomplished composer and vocalist, Francois Luambo Makiadi remains a towering figure even in death, probably the greatest the Congo (later Zaire) has ever produced, and as the leader of the long-running O.K. Jazz group, he was one of the fathers...